NOLA Lending Group
NOLA Lending Group is a regional retail mortgage lender and division of First Federal Bank originating conventional, government, jumbo, and specialty home loans across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida via in-house processing and a multi-state loan officer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMandeville, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What NOLA Lending Group does
NOLA Lending Group is a regional retail mortgage lender founded in 2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana, operating across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. The company originates conventional, government (FHA, VA, USDA), non-agency (jumbo up to $3 million, DSCR investor), specialty (condo, manufactured housing, temporary buydowns), and bond-program mortgages, plus refinancings. Distribution is delivered through a network of loan officers and at least ten branch locations, supplemented by an online pre-qualification portal (apply.nolalending.com), web-based mortgage calculators, and active social channels. The platform is supported by in-house processing and underwriting, with loans funded by First Federal Bank's own capital post-acquisition, and servicing handled through LoanCare.
The business operates under NMLS #408902 and is a division of First Federal Bank, an OCC-regulated, FDIC-insured community-based mutual bank with approximately $3.9 billion in assets headquartered in Florida. Following First Federal Bank's January 2026 acquisition of NOLA Lending Group from Fidelity Bank, the NOLA brand was retained and most employees were expected to be kept, while a February 2026 announcement indicated 108 positions would be cut as part of the transition. Revenue is generated per closed loan through origination fees and interest rate spreads, with loans either sold on the secondary market or retained.
Customer segments are diversified across first-time homebuyers, military and veterans, medical professionals (Advanced Medical Practitioners Program), self-employed borrowers, rural USDA-eligible buyers, jumbo borrowers, and real estate investors. The company maintains formal partnerships with Louisiana Housing Corporation, Mississippi Home Corporation, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, City of New Orleans, HANO, and federal agencies (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA) to deliver down-payment assistance and bond programs across its three-state footprint. Geographic licensing excludes Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York.
NOLA Lending Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NOLA Lending Group
- Legal name
- NOLA Lending Group, a division of First Federal Bank
- Website
- https://nolalending.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- NOLA Lending Group is a regional retail mortgage lender and division of First Federal Bank originating conventional, government, jumbo, and specialty home loans across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida via in-house processing and a multi-state loan officer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NOLA Lending Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Mortgage Lending
- NAICS
- Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (52218)
- SIC
- Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Government-Insured Mortgage Origination (FHA/VA/USDA) (FSALAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Affordable Housing / Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Mortgage Origination (FSALAAAM)
Keywords
Where NOLA Lending Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mandeville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
NOLA Lending Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Mortgage Origination Fees and Rate Margins: NOLA Lending Group generates revenue through mortgage origination fees and interest rate margins on closed loans. The company originates mortgages across conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, and specialty programs. Loans are closed using First Federal Bank's own capital and may be sold on the secondary market or retained in the servicing portfolio. The company also offers refinancing products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | VA Loans with No Lender Fees |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | USDA Rural Development Loans |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | FHA Loans |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Jumbo Loans up to $3 Million |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | $500 Lender Credit for Past Borrowers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
NOLA Lending Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NOLA Lending Group originates and closes residential mortgage loans across conventional, FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development, jumbo, and specialty programs in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Operating as a division of First Federal Bank, the company handles in-house processing and underwriting through closing, with loans funded using First Federal Bank's own capital and supplemented by digital self-service tools such as an online pre-qualification portal and mortgage calculators.
Product overview
NOLA Lending Group is a mortgage lending division of First Federal Bank offering a comprehensive suite of home loan products across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. The product portfolio consists of Conventional Programs (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Construction Loans), Government Programs (FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development), Non-Agency Programs (Jumbo Loans, DSCR Investment Property Loans), Specialty Programs (Condo Loans, Manufactured Housing, Temporary Buydown Programs), Bond Programs/Downpayment Assistance, Additional Loan Options (Home Equity, Medical Practitioners Program), and Home Mortgage Refinancing. The company also provides digital platforms including an Online Pre-Qualification Application portal and Mortgage Calculator tools. Operating since 2002, NOLA Lending Group delivers in-house processing and underwriting with loans closed using First Federal Bank's own funds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Conventional Programs Traditional mortgage loans including Fannie Mae HomeReady, Freddie Mac Home Possible, Fannie Mae HomeOne, and Conventional Construction Loans for individual borrowers with strong credit and stable income seeking purchase or refinance financing.
- Government Programs (FHA / VA / USDA) Federal government-backed loans including FHA 203(b) and 203(h), VA loans for eligible veterans and service members, and USDA Rural Development loans with flexible down payment requirements for individual borrowers who may not qualify for conventional loans.
- Non-Agency Programs (Jumbo and DSCR) Flexible mortgage solutions for unique financial situations including Jumbo Loans up to $3 million for high-value properties and DSCR loans for real estate investors qualifying based on property rental income.
- Specialty Programs Customized mortgage options including Condo Loan Programs, Manufactured Housing Loans, and Temporary Mortgage Buydown Programs (1-0, 2-1, 1-1, 3-2-1 structures) for buyers of non-standard property types or those seeking reduced early-stage payments.
- Bond Programs / Down Payment Assistance State and local housing finance agency programs in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida offering reduced interest rates, down payment assistance, and forgivable loans for low-to-moderate-income families and first-time homebuyers, including Louisiana Housing Corporation MRB programs, Mississippi Home Corporation HAT/Smart6/Easy8/Trusty10, and Florida Housing Finance Corporation HFA Preferred / Hometown Heroes programs.
- Additional Loan Options (Home Equity and Advanced Medical Practitioners Program) Flexible financing solutions beyond traditional mortgage programs including Home Equity Loans and the Advanced Medical Practitioners Program for healthcare providers (MD, DDS, DNP, CRNA, NP, PA, DVM, and others) with flexible credit requirements and student loan deferral.
- Home Mortgage Refinancing Mortgage refinancing services allowing homeowners to lower interest rates, shorten loan terms, switch from adjustable to fixed-rate loans, or access home equity for home improvements, debt consolidation, or other significant expenses.
- Online Pre-Qualification Application Portal Digital mortgage application portal allowing prospective borrowers to complete a mortgage pre-qualification application online, followed up by a dedicated loan officer to complete origination.
Quantifiable outcome
- Access to over 25 investor rate quotes daily to ensure competitive pricing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use NOLA Lending Group
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles9 records
NOLA Lending Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
NOLA Lending Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- First Federal Bank of FloridacoreFirst Federal Bank of Florida signed a definitive agreement to acquire NOLA Lending Group from Fidelity Bank. The acquisition transfers NOLA Lending Group's assets and operations across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida to First Federal Bank. The platform transition was expected to complete within 60 days of closing, with most employees retained. First Federal Bank planned to invest in additional technology tools and expanded product offerings for the acquired customer base.
- Alston & BirdminorLegal counsel for the acquisition of NOLA Lending Group by First Federal Bank of Florida.
- Bradley Arant Boult CummingsminorLegal counsel for the acquisition of NOLA Lending Group by First Federal Bank of Florida.
- Louisiana Housing CorporationcoreLouisiana Housing Corporation works with homebuyers, lenders, realtors, and counselors to facilitate homeownership through Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) programs including the MRB Home Program, MRB Program, and MRB Keys for Service, available through NOLA Lending Group for eligible Louisiana borrowers.
- Mississippi Home CorporationcoreMississippi Home Corporation offers programs including Housing Assistance for Teachers (HAT), Smart6 ($6,000), Easy8 ($8,000), and Trusty10 ($10,000) for down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible Mississippi borrowers through NOLA Lending Group.
- Florida Housing Finance CorporationcoreFlorida Housing Finance Corporation offers FL First Loans Bond, FL Homeownership Loans Program, HFA Preferred/Advantage Conventional Bond Programs, and Hometown Heroes programs available through NOLA Lending Group for eligible Florida borrowers.
- City of New OrleanscoreCity of New Orleans offers the Soft Second Program and Direct Homebuyer Assistance Program providing down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers in Orleans Parish, available through NOLA Lending Group.
- Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO)minorHANO Program provides technical guidance and financial assistance to help HANO families transition from public housing to homeownership, with NOLA Lending Group serving as a lending partner.
- Fannie MaecoreNOLA Lending Group offers Fannie Mae loan products including HomeReady, HomeOne, and standard conventional mortgage programs.
- Freddie MaccoreNOLA Lending Group offers Freddie Mac Home Possible mortgage programs for low-to-moderate income buyers.
- Federal Housing Administration (FHA)coreNOLA Lending Group offers FHA-insured mortgage loans including 203(b) and 203(h) programs for eligible borrowers.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreNOLA Lending Group offers VA home loans for eligible veterans, active-duty personnel, reservists, and qualifying surviving spouses.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreNOLA Lending Group offers USDA Rural Development loans providing 100% financing for eligible properties in designated rural areas.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
NOLA Lending Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rocket Mortgage: Largest U.S. retail mortgage lender and dominant digital-first brand — competes with NOLA across all product categories but operates at vastly larger scale and represents the structural competitor that traditional regional lenders must defend against.
- United Wholesale Mortgage: Largest U.S. wholesale mortgage lender and broader industry incumbent — not a direct retail competitor but sets competitive pricing benchmarks via broker channels that influence NOLA's investor pricing.
Direct peers
- loanDepot: National retail and wholesale mortgage lender offering conventional, government, and non-QM products across multiple states — directly comparable to NOLA's multi-product retail mortgage model and footprint-based origination approach.
- Guild Mortgage: Mid-sized retail mortgage lender with strong government loan programs and footprint across the Sun Belt — closely comparable to NOLA's emphasis on FHA/VA/USDA and Gulf South regional focus.
- Caliber Home Loans: Retail and wholesale mortgage lender with diversified conventional, government, and non-QM products — comparable to NOLA's product breadth and multi-channel origination.
- PrimeLending: PlainsCapital subsidiary and full-service retail mortgage lender with multi-state branch distribution and diversified product set — comparable to NOLA's model of broad product suite across a regional branch network.
- Academy Mortgage: Retail mortgage lender with strong first-time homebuyer programs and multi-state branch presence — comparable to NOLA's first-time buyer focus and government/DPA product emphasis.
- Fairway Independent Mortgage: Retail mortgage banker with strong government program specialization and a multi-state branch model — directly comparable to NOLA's VA/FHA/USDA emphasis and in-house processing approach.
- CrossCountry Mortgage: Multi-state retail mortgage lender with in-house processing and branch-based loan officer model — comparable to NOLA's regional retail origination and vertical integration approach.
- NewRez LLC: Retail and wholesale mortgage lender (formerly Shellpoint) offering conventional, government, and non-QM products with growing branch footprint — comparable to NOLA's product diversification and multi-channel model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NOLA Lending Group social profiles
Digital presenceNOLA Lending Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
NOLA Lending Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NOLA Lending Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
NOLA Lending Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NOLA Lending Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NOLA Lending Group
What does NOLA Lending Group do?
NOLA Lending Group originates and closes residential mortgage loans across conventional, FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development, jumbo, and specialty programs in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Operating as a division of First Federal Bank, the company handles in-house processing and underwriting through closing, with loans funded using First Federal Bank's own capital and supplemented by digital self-service tools such as an online pre-qualification portal and mortgage calculators.
Is NOLA Lending Group a public or private company?
NOLA Lending Group is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was NOLA Lending Group founded?
NOLA Lending Group was founded in 2002. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is NOLA Lending Group based?
NOLA Lending Group is headquartered in Mandeville, United States, in the North America region.
How does NOLA Lending Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: mortgage Origination Fees and Rate Margins.
Who are NOLA Lending Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rocket Mortgage and United Wholesale Mortgage. Direct peers are loanDepot, Guild Mortgage, Caliber Home Loans, PrimeLending, Academy Mortgage, Fairway Independent Mortgage, CrossCountry Mortgage and NewRez LLC.
Does NOLA Lending Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for NOLA Lending Group.
What industry is NOLA Lending Group in?
NOLA Lending Group's product category is Residential Mortgage Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSALAAAI, Government-Insured Mortgage Origination (FHA/VA/USDA), with a secondary code of FSALAAAM, Affordable Housing / Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Mortgage Origination. Its NAICS code is 52231 and its SIC code is 6162.